Action at Harrisonburg- June 6, 1862

After a two-day delay caused by the burning of the bridge over the North Fork of the Shenandoah River Frémont’s force had caught the tail end of Jackson’s column on June 6, 1962, largely due to the efforts of George Bayard’s “Flying Brigade”. Early in the afternoon as they gained on Jackson Bayard detached the 1st NJ Cavalry and a battalion of the 4th NY Cavalry led by Colonel Sir Percy Wyndham to reconnoiter Jackson’s column. As he pursued down the Port Republic Road a scout reported that the Confederates had taken up a position in the woods ahead. When another scout reported that the Rebel force was not more than 50 men Wyndham decided to attack. Unfortunately for Wyndham and his men that intelligence would turn out to be wrong. Company A under Major Myron Beaumont rushed forward. They were followed by a second group with Wyndham in the lead. The two platoons were fired upon in the front and on both flanks. The end result was that four Federals were killed, 28 were wounded, and Sir Percy himself was captured and taken to Port Republic as a prisoner of war.

At this point it was early evening and Frémont decided to encamp at Harrisonburg after a 17-mile march. Part of Bayard’s command, the 1st PA Rifles (the Bucktails), under Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Kane, requested permission from Frémont to retrieve their wounded comrades which was granted. Kane and 150 of his men headed down the Port Republic Road supported by the 1st PA Cavalry. At the same time Confederate General Turner Ashby growing increasingly frustrated with the attacks on his rear guard decided to double back toward Harrisonburg to pursue Bayard’s force with his cavalry and infantry support from Brigadier General George Steuart’s brigade (58 VA, 1st MD, followed by the 44th and 52nd VA). The two groups would meet at Chestnut Ridge on the Port Republic Road just outside Harrisonburg. The alignment of the forces is shown from a map on the Civil War Trails sign on Chestnut Ridge. I have changed the image to greyscale to better visualize it.

The Federals gained the high ground first and positioned themselves behind a fence facing the road. The Confederates advanced with two companies of skirmishers in the lead followed by the 58th VA on the right and the 1st MD on the left when the 1st PA opened fire around 6:00 PM. Ashby ordered his men forward and rode to the front to urge them on. When within about 60 yards of the Pennsylvanians position, he was shot and killed. General Ewell then ordered the 44th VA and 1st MD (Colonel Bradley Johnson) forward up the ridge. The 1st MD charged the fence line that the 1st PA were using as cover forcing them to withdraw. Casualties were heavy on both sides for a contest that lasted only about 30 minutes. The Federals suffered 7 killed, 35 wounded, and 5 captured including Colonel Kane who was shot in the leg. The Confederates suffered 70 casualties. General Ashby would be the only commissioned general to be killed in the 1862 Valley Campaign. His body was transported back to the home of Frank Kemper in Port Republic, shown below.

**The Frank Kemper house- Port Republic Museum- 8691 Water Street, Port Republic**

Turner Ashby was initially buried in Charlottesville for four years before his body was moved to the Stonewall Confederate Cemetery at 305 E Boscawen Street in Winchester, the monument at the grave is shown below.